This season’s wedding couples are currently nailing down their wedding music choices – with some interesting picks! It’s no surprise that the Mendelssohn Wedding March takes first place as a ceremony music choice, in my experience so far. And Pachelbel’s Canon in D is coming out once again as the top processional choice, and second ceremony music choice overall. But what surprised me is the current third place choice.

Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years” seems to be taking a number 3 position in the list of top ceremony music choices for couples I’ll be working with in 2015! In one case, it will serve as processional for the wedding party, in another case as processional for the bride, and in yet another as recessional.

“How can I love when I’m afraid to fall?But watching you stand alone,All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.And all along I believed I would find you.Time has brought your heart to me.I have loved you for a thousand years.I’ll love you for a thousand more.”

The final choices are still being decided for many couples – stay tuned for updates on this season’s couples’ choices in ceremony music!

Lisa Carlson performs for weddings and other occasions throughout Vermont and beyond, with musical offerings ranging from a quartet of flute with violin, viola and cello, to solo flute, to duos of flute with harp, violin, piano, and more. She also teaches flute in Montpelier, Vermont and Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Probably one of the single most important decisions to make regarding your wedding, after the actual date, would be what venue to host it at. For those that have day-dreamed about their wedding day, and already started planning it pre-engagement, this may be an easy task - but for most it is a difficult decision. Often guest count and budget come into play when narrowing down the options, but also the type of venue is an important factor to consider. Vermont has many different styles of venues and locations to choose from and the number of choices can be overwhelming.

If you live in Vermont, starting with venues close by can be an obvious place to start. However, don't let distance discourage you from venturing out beyond your 'burb. Many venues offer on-site accommodations which can be well worth the cost as it eliminates the need for other expenses, such as transportation, and all of your guests can stay at the same place allowing the party to extend later into the night and the entire weekend. Plus you have the added benefit of discovering a new part of Vermont and avoiding having your wedding at the same venue as all of your friends.

Pre-register today for the Love Local Wedding Marketplace, taking place on May 4th at the West Monitor Barn in Richmond. It's free admission (as long as you pre-register) and will feature tons of local vendor talents and inspiration, including;

DIY Maple Candies by Sweet Hearts of VermontDIY Boutonnière demonstrations by the Crimson PoppyTips on how to plan a $10k, $15k, or $25k wedding from Blue Sky Weddings & Events

After the glow of engagement has started to fade and the impeding realization of wedding planning sinks in, all couples face the same daunting question; what is our wedding budget? And beyond that, how much do we allocate for each component? No matter how small or large your budget may be, this is a difficult decision for most. All too easily brides and grooms get caught up in the fuss fueled by celebrity media and shows like 'Say Yes To The Dress' and 'My Fair Wedding'. Instead of falling for a financial trap, read on for some advice from couples who have been there before and some helpful statistics on average costs.